New Guinea Impatiens Plant Named &#39;SAKIMP038&#39;

ABSTRACT

An  Impatiens  plant particularly distinguished by having orange-red flowers, and green leaves with yellow variegation, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Impatiens×hybrida hort.

Variety denomination: ‘SAKIMP038’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of New Guineaimpatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens×hybrida hort, andreferred to by the variety name ‘SAKIMP038’. ‘SAKIMP038’ originated froma hybridization between the proprietary female Impatiens line‘NG-02SM-13’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male Impatiens line‘NF-457BB’ (unpatented) in Misato, Japan.

In September 2009, the parental lines were crossed and a population ofF1 plants was created. The F1 plants were evaluated in Misato, Japan inan open field trial. The criteria for selection included bright flowercolor, clear variegation, and a strong root system. At the completion ofthe trial, a single plant selection designated as ‘M2011-377’ wasselected based on the above selection criteria an vegetativelypropagated. From June to August 2011, the selection was evaluated in anopen field in Misato, Japan. Shoot-tip cuttings of the variety were thenshipped to Salinas, Calif., where the plants were regenerated andre-evaluated for stability of traits. ‘M2011-377’ was subsequently named‘SAKIMP038’, which was found to reproduce true to type in successivegenerations of asexual propagation via vegetative shoot-tip cuttings inSalinas, Calif.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

1. Orange-red flowers; and

2. Green leaves with yellow variegation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This Impatiens plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, andflowers. The photographs are of a plant grown in Salinas, Calif. undergreenhouse conditions. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the mature inflorescence of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘SAKIMP038’. Data was obtained from plants grownabout 2 months from propagation by terminal cuttings in Salinas, Calif.under greenhouse conditions. Color references are to The RoyalHorticultural Society of London color chart (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition(2001). Anatomic labels are from The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary ofBotanical Terms, by M. Hickey and C. King, Cambridge University Press.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Balsaminaceae.        -   Botanical.—Impatiens×hybrida hort.        -   Common.—Impatiens.        -   Designation.—‘SAKIMP038’.-   Growth:    -   -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—The terminal 1.0            to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The            vegetative cuttings were propagated for five to six weeks.            The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a            1:9 solution of DIP 'N GROW (1 solution:9 water) root            inducing solution immediately prior to sticking into the            cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays            having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based            growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from            overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient            roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were transplanted and            grown in 20 cm diameter plastic pots in a glass greenhouse            located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based            growing medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen,            10% phosphorus and 20% potassium was applied once a day or            every other day by overhead irrigation. Pots were            top-dressed with a dry, slow release fertilizer containing            20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 18% potassium. The typical            average air temperature was 24° C.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary Impatiens plant line            ‘NG-02SM-13’.        -   Male parent.—The proprietary Impatiens plant line            ‘NF-457BB’.-   Plant description:    -   -   Habit.—Spreading.        -   Height.—21.5 cm from the soil line to the top of the            foliage.        -   Spread.—42.0 cm.        -   Number of branches.—10 total with 1 main branch.        -   Length of branches.—1.5 cm from the soil line to the first            node, 17.0 cm total.        -   Diameter of branches.—1.3 cm for the main branch, 6.0 mm to            8.0 mm for the other secondary branches.        -   Color of branches.—Closest to but darker than RHS 187A            (Greyed-Purple).        -   Life cycle.—Annual.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 4 weeks.        -   Time to bloom from propagation.—6 to 8 weeks.        -   Flowering requirements (season).—Will flower so long as            temperature is above 5° C.        -   Temperature tolerances.—Plants observed to continue            flowering in a temperature range of 5° C. to 36° C.-   Stems:    -   -   Color.—Closest to RHS 187B (Greyed-Purple).        -   Anthocyanin color.—RHS 187B (Greyed-Purple).        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Description.—Strong; circular cross-section, smooth and            shiny.        -   Length.—4.0 cm to 8.0 cm from the first to the second node,            12.0 cm to 15.0 cm total.        -   Diameter.—5.0 mm to 7.0 mm.        -   Internode length.—3.5 cm to 4.0 cm.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled with up to 5 leaves per node, opposite            if only two leaves at one node.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate, curled.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Shortly attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Surface appearance.—Dull; waxy.        -   Length.—8.3 cm.        -   Width.—3.7 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 139A (Green) with RHS 4A (Yellow)            at the mid-vein; on mature leaves this color is slightly            lighter RHS 11B (Yellow) Lower surface: RHS 147B            (Yellow-Green) with RHS 11C (Yellow) at mid-vein.        -   Variegation.—Present.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Surface pubescence.—Absent.        -   Petiole.—Length: 1.0 cm Diameter: 3.0 mm Color: RHS 187C            (Greyed-Purple) Texture: Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: Closest to RHS 62D            (Red-Purple) Lower surface: RHS 60A (Red-Purple).-   Flowers:    -   -   Number of flowers per node.—1 to 3 in bloom at one time;            about 10 flower buds.        -   Number of flowers per plant.—Approximately 35 in bloom.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—14 days.        -   Inflorescence type.—Single flower with spur.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Corolla:    -   -   Corolla shape.—Roughly circular with 5 radial petals.        -   Corolla diameter.—5.8 cm.        -   Corolla depth.—1.0 cm.        -   Petals.—Surface texture (both surfaces): Glabrous Length:            3.0 cm Width: 3.1 cm Shape: Obcordate Apex: Emarginate            (cleaved) Margin: Entire Base: Attenuate Color: Upper            surface: RHS N30A (Orange-Red) Lower: Closest to RHS 39A            (Red) Eye zone: Closest to RHS 60A (Red-Purple).-   Calyx:    -   -   Sepal shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Sepal number.—2.        -   Sepal color.—Upper surface: Closest to 180A (Greyed-Red)            with very slight RHS 147A at the tip Lower surface: Closest            to RHS 157A (Green-White) with very slight RHS 180A            (Greyed-Red).        -   Sepal length.—1.5 cm.        -   Sepal diameter.—6.0 mm.        -   Sepal base.—Subcordate.        -   Sepal apex.—Caudate.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal texture.—Glabrous.-   Bud:    -   -   Surface texture.—Glabrous.        -   Length.—2.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Deltoid longitudinal cross-section.        -   Color.—Closest to RHS 41A (Red) with RHS 183A            (Greyed-Purple) at the edge and very slight 144A            (Yellow-Green) at the edge.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—3.0 cm.        -   Color.—Closest to RHS 185A (Greyed-Purple).        -   Diameter.—2.0 mm.        -   Surface texture.—Smooth, glabrous.-   Spur:    -   -   Color.—Closest to RHS 60A (Red-Purple) with N77A (Purple) at            the tip and N155B (White) at the base with RHS 60B            (Red-Purple) at the midpoint of the base and RHS 143B            (Yellow-Green) at the tip of base.        -   Shape.—Tubular; curved downward.        -   Length.—6.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 mm to 2.0 mm.-   Reproductive organs    -   -   Stamens.—Stamen form: Fused; split into 4 lobes Stamen            number: 5 Filament form: Free Filament length: 7.0 mm            Filament color: RHS 144C (Yellow-Green) Anther length: 7.0            mm Anther color: Closest to RHS 50A (Red) Pollen amount:            Abundant Pollen color: 158B (Yellow-White) Pollen            description: Powdery.        -   Pistil.—Pistil number: 1 Stigma color: Closest to 145D            (Yellow-Green) Style color: RHS 136A (Green) Ovary            arrangement: Parietal Ovary interior color: RHS 145B            (Yellow-Green).        -   Seed production.—Not present.-   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility observed.-   Comparison with parental lines and commercial variety: ‘SAKIMP038’    is distinguished from its parents as shown in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male ParentCharacteristic ‘SAKIMP038’ ‘NG-02SM-13’ ‘NF-457BB’ Flower colorOrange-red with Deeper orange than Magenta red-purple eyes ‘SAKIMP038’Leave variegation Present Absent Absent

-   When ‘SAKIMP038’ is compared to the commercial Impatiens variety    ‘SAKIMP026’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,321), the following differences    are as described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘SAKIMP038’‘SAKIMP026’ Growth habit Spreading Compact Petal color, RHS N30A(Orange-Red) RHS 40A (Red) upper surface Spur color Closest to RHS 60A(Red-Purple) RHS 53D (Red) with N77A (Purple) at the tip and N155B(White) at the base with RHS 60B (Red-Purple) at the midpoint of baseand RHS 143B (Yellow-Green) at tip of base Mature leaf color, Variegatedwith RHS 139A (Green) Darker than RHS upper surface with RHS 4A (Yellow)at the mid 147A (Yellow- vein; on mature leaves this color is Green)slightly lighter RHS 11B (Yellow)

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of New Guinea Impatiens plantnamed ‘SAKIMP038’ as described and illustrated herein.